History and Brand Resources

1965

The Vocational Industrial Clubs of America Inc. (VICA) was founded by students and teachers who were serious about their professions and saw the need for more training in the areas of leadership to complement their chosen vocation. In Nashville, Tenn., 14 states were represented, as VICA chose its name, colors, motto, purposes and goals.

1966

VICA membership was 29,534 in 1,074 clubs in 26 chartered states and territories.

The first issue of the VICA magazine was produced.

1967

VICA added five more states, began holding competitive events and introduced uniform. Membership was well over 40,000.

1968

Plans were announced for the national VICA center to be located near Washington, D.C.

VICA members were received by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the Cabinet Room of the White House. The students give the President a handmade gavel and sounding block inscribed, “To Lyndon B. Johnson – America’s Great Educational President.”

1969

VICA membership hit 82,000 with new chapters, college/technical membership and VICA’s yearly themes. The first theme was “Speak Up for America.”

1970

The VICA Leadership Handbook was published for the first time, and a student campaign to raise funds for the National Leadership Center got underway. The theme was “Skills Build America.”

1971

At the seventh annual National Leadership Conference, there were 25 competitive activities.

1972

VICA membership rises to 125,000.

1973

VICA membership exceeds 150,000.

1974

VICA purchased land for the new National Leadership Center in Leesburg, VA.

VICA members met with President Gerald Ford.

1975

VICA celebrated its 10th anniversary with the induction of the 1 millionth member.

1976

5,000 VICA members attended the U.S. Skill Olympics in Miami Beach.

Membership reached a quarter of a million with 10,000 active chapters.

1977

Contributions from VICA alumni, friends and members to purchase the land where the National Leadership Center now sits topped $56,000.

1978

Ground breaking began for the National Leadership Center in Leesburg, Va.

1979

The National Leadership Center was dedicated after 15 years of planning and fundraising.

1980

VICA started the Youth Development Foundation Committee to ensure our programs were relevant to both students’ and industry’s needs, and that financing was available to support them.

1981

VICA played host to the International Youth Skill Olympics, where VICA members joined 274 international contestants from 14 countries in 33 contests.

Nearly 7,000 VICA members attended the National Leadership Conference and U.S. Skill Olympics.

1982

The first year VICA incorporated industry update seminars as part of the National Leadership Conference.

1983

President Ronald Reagan spoke at the National Leadership Conference and said, “American industry as well as American educational institutions should take note of the VICA experience.”

1984

The organization attained its three-and-a-half-millionth member.

1985

VICA’s 20th anniversary; membership had grown to 12,632 chapters. The U.S. Skill Olympics had gone from five competitive events to 38.

The first International Skill Olympics gold medal was awarded to the United States. Dennis Falls of Arizona brought home the Graphic Design gold medal.

1986

The board of directors opened its membership to representatives of technical and health occupations education.

An ex-officio board position was created for the chairman of the Youth Development Foundation Committee.

1987

The Professional Development Program was created, and in testing Level 1, 6,500 students and teachers took part.

1988

The board of directors appointed Stephen Denby as executive director; efforts began to organize VICA chapters in Ontario, Canada.

VICA released the Professional Development Program nationwide.

1989

An ex-officio position on the board of directors was created for the State VICA Directors’ Association.

1990

VICA celebrated its 25th anniversary.

1991

Robert Pope won the gold medal for Welding in the Amsterdam International Youth Skill Olympics. He made history by receiving the first gold medal in Welding for the United States, and by obtaining the most points in any IYSO contest since its beginning.

1992

1993

Nicholas Peterson won the bronze medal in Welding at the International Youth Skills Olympics in Taiwan.

1994

The new name of the United States Skill Olympics was announced. The competition’s name would be the SkillsUSA Championships — to become effective during the National Leadership and Skills Conference in 1995.

1995

Branden Muehlbrandt won the silver medal in Welding at the International Youth Skill Competitions (IYSC, officially renamed from the International Youth Skill Olympics).

The SkillsUSA Championships became the new official name of the national competition.

VICA received its official designation as a CEU sponsor.

The new Professional Development Program and the Total Quality Curriculum were introduced to the public.

1996

VICA received the Oracle Award by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET) for the new Professional Development Program (PDP).

VICA received the Vocational Instructional Materials (VIM) Award of Excellence for the PDP.

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley, Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, and J.D. Hoye, executive director of the Department of Education’s School to Work Office, spoke at VICA’s Washington Leadership Training Institute’s Congressional Breakfast.

1997

VICA held its first School-to-Work Conference at the NLSC.

VICA was given a Grand Award for its website by the Awards for Publication Excellence (APEX).

1998

The board of directors voted to change the name of the organization to SkillsUSA–VICA.

Robert Flint of Caterpillar Inc. was the first business representative elected to chair the board of directors.

1999

VICA officially changed to SkillsUSA–VICA on July 4, 1999, at the National Leadership and Skills Conference.

Students competing in the WorldSkills Competition in Montreal placed higher than ever before.

Nationwide, chapter members began an image campaign in which they spoke to community leaders about the value of skilled employees, their training and SkillsUSA–VICA membership.

2001

Timothy W. Lawrence, a former student member, became national executive director. Formerly national director of business and industry partnerships, Lawrence had also been a classroom instructor, industry employee, state association director and member of the board of directors.

An ex-officio position was created for National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Consortium.

2002

The board of directors approved shortening the name of the national organization from SkillsUSA–VICA to SkillsUSA, effective Sept. 1, 2004.

2003

An ex-officio position on the board of directors was created for a college/postsecondary representative.

2004

On Sept. 1, the organization’s name officially changed to SkillsUSA.

2005

The mortgage was paid off on the National Leadership Center.

2006

A student liaison was added to the national board of directors. The board approved having the chair of the national officers’ Joint Executive Council fill this role. The first to serve was Nicole Dillard of Wyoming.

2008

SkillsUSA released the first Skill Connect Assessments as part of its new Work Force Ready System. Driven by industry, the technical knowledge and skill assessments correspond to many career cluster areas of training.

2017

SkillsUSA received a Grand Award for its magazine’s digital edition from APEX (Awards for Publication Excellence).

The SkillsUSA Career Essentials suite was introduced, including SkillsUSA Career Essentials: Foundations, SkillsUSA Career Essentials: Experiences (replacing the Professional Development Program) and SkillsUSA Career Essentials: Assessments (formerly the Work Force Ready System and Skill Connect Assessments).

Keynote Speakers

Over the years, SkillsUSA has been fortunate to have many excellent keynote speakers at the National Leadership and Skills Conference. Some of them include:

SkillsUSA Foundation

The SkillsUSA Foundation (formerly Youth Development Foundation) provides support to the goals and purposes of SkillsUSA, including student awards, preparation of special publications or funds for the SkillsUSA Championships. Over the years, we have been fortunate to have many fine companies support SkillsUSA’s efforts, and the current Foundation Committee has members from many large corporations, including among others … DeWalt, Caterpillar, Snap-on Inc. and StanleyBlack&Decker Inc.

SkillsUSA’s Alumni and Friends Association

The SkillsUSA Alumni and Friends Association’s mission is to help promote SkillsUSA in terms of time, talent and financial resources at all levels (local, district, state and national).